Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/
Isandla Institute engages in cutting-edge research, knowledge sharing, development of alternative frameworks and methodologies, and consultancy to support urban development and transformation.en-zaFUSE 1.7http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss(c) Isandla. All Rights Reserved.Fri, 18 Aug 2017 04:54:35 +0000Fri, 18 Aug 2017 04:54:35 +0000admin@isandla.org.zaadmin@isandla.org.zahttp://isandla.org.za/tpl/1.2/img/feed-300.gifIsandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/
Taking the people to governancehttp://isandla.org.za/news/32/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/32/http://isandla.org.za/news/32/2012-11-14T12:05:55ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteWed, 14 Nov 2012 10:42:00 +00002012-11-14T10:42:00Z2014-05-15T14:12:11ZThe 2012 National Development Plan (NDP) and the Recommendations of the African National Congress's National Policy Conference (held in June 2012), each propose a number of reforms and interventi ...The 2012 National Development Plan (NDP) and the Recommendations of the African National Congress's National Policy Conference (held in June 2012), each propose a number of reforms and interventions to address some of the fundamental fault lines in the system of local government and local democracy. Read together, these documents are suggestive of the future shape and functioning of local government in South Africa

A Roundtable dialogue hosted by Isandla Institute on 7 November 2012 therefore examined "The shape of things to come: Towards a more accountable, responsive and people-centred local government?" It placed a particular emphasis on discussing whether the proposed reforms will indeed bring about a more accountable, responsive and people-centred local government system and what the implications are for the three-way interface between public representatives, political parties and citizens.

To further enrich this debate Eduardo Pereira, Mayor of Várzea Paulista municipality in Sao Paulo, Brazil and President of the Brazilian Association of Mayors, shared relevant experiences and lessons from Brazil.

]]>The 2012 National Development Plan (NDP) and the Recommendations of the African National Congress's National Policy Conference (held in June 2012), each propose a number of reforms and interventions to address some of the fundamental fault lines in the system of local government and local democracy. Read together, these documents are suggestive of the future shape and functioning of local government in South Africa

A Roundtable dialogue hosted by Isandla Institute on 7 November 2012 therefore examined "The shape of things to come: Towards a more accountable, responsive and people-centred local government?" It placed a particular emphasis on discussing whether the proposed reforms will indeed bring about a more accountable, responsive and people-centred local government system and what the implications are for the three-way interface between public representatives, political parties and citizens.

To further enrich this debate Eduardo Pereira, Mayor of Várzea Paulista municipality in Sao Paulo, Brazil and President of the Brazilian Association of Mayors, shared relevant experiences and lessons from Brazil.

]]>IsandlaAdvancing active citizenship: A Citizenship Academy as a means to strengthen local democracy?http://isandla.org.za/news/31/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/31/http://isandla.org.za/news/31/2012-08-14T09:52:55ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteTue, 14 Aug 2012 09:41:00 +00002012-08-14T09:41:00Z2012-08-14T09:52:55ZIsandla Institute hosted a Roundtable dialogue on 21 June 2012 titled "Advancing active citizenship: A Citizenship Academy as a means to strengthen local democracy?" The consolidation of political par ...Isandla Institute hosted a Roundtable dialogue on 21 June 2012 titled "Advancing active citizenship: A Citizenship Academy as a means to strengthen local democracy?"

The consolidation of political participation and representation presupposes an active, engaged public that is able to claim rights, negotiate priorities and accept negotiated outcomes. Despite rhetoric to the contrary, dominant political cultures and institutional realities in South Africa militate against such an active citizenry. In the formal political arena of representative democracy, issue of substance tend to degenerate into mudslinging across party political lines. And the highly lauded edifice of public participation in local government is more often than not reduced to a symbolic, procedural and instrumentalist approach which at best results in wish lists where communities have little exposure to constraints, tradeoffs or priority setting. In addition to service delivery concerns, the lack of real influence on local decision making, combined with weak and seemingly unresponsive local leadership, are critical factors that serve to fuel recurring spates of community protests across the country.

The National Planning Commission (NPC) has been at the forefront of calling for active citizenship, which has found resonance with a wide range of actors and stakeholders. However, given the fractured nature of communities and weak non-partisan leadership at community level, there is a need to strengthen relevant competencies and capacities to enable the notion of active citizenship to become a reality. It is in this light that the idea of a citizenship academy as mooted in the 2011 National Development Plan is intriguing and potentially appealing.

Isandla Institute prepared a Discussion Paper before the event in order to clarify some of the key issues and questions raised by both the notions of active citizenship and the citizenship academy. This has been combined with a Roundtable Report in order to give an overview of the discussions that occurred during the day. The combined document can be found here.

]]>Isandla Institute hosted a Roundtable dialogue on 21 June 2012 titled "Advancing active citizenship: A Citizenship Academy as a means to strengthen local democracy?"

The consolidation of political participation and representation presupposes an active, engaged public that is able to claim rights, negotiate priorities and accept negotiated outcomes. Despite rhetoric to the contrary, dominant political cultures and institutional realities in South Africa militate against such an active citizenry. In the formal political arena of representative democracy, issue of substance tend to degenerate into mudslinging across party political lines. And the highly lauded edifice of public participation in local government is more often than not reduced to a symbolic, procedural and instrumentalist approach which at best results in wish lists where communities have little exposure to constraints, tradeoffs or priority setting. In addition to service delivery concerns, the lack of real influence on local decision making, combined with weak and seemingly unresponsive local leadership, are critical factors that serve to fuel recurring spates of community protests across the country.

The National Planning Commission (NPC) has been at the forefront of calling for active citizenship, which has found resonance with a wide range of actors and stakeholders. However, given the fractured nature of communities and weak non-partisan leadership at community level, there is a need to strengthen relevant competencies and capacities to enable the notion of active citizenship to become a reality. It is in this light that the idea of a citizenship academy as mooted in the 2011 National Development Plan is intriguing and potentially appealing.

Isandla Institute prepared a Discussion Paper before the event in order to clarify some of the key issues and questions raised by both the notions of active citizenship and the citizenship academy. This has been combined with a Roundtable Report in order to give an overview of the discussions that occurred during the day. The combined document can be found here.

]]>IsandlaAdvancing a Participatory Approach to Informal Settlement Upgrading in South Africahttp://isandla.org.za/news/30/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/30/http://isandla.org.za/news/30/2012-07-27T06:57:13ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteFri, 27 Jul 2012 06:50:00 +00002012-07-27T06:50:00Z2012-10-24T11:02:49ZThere has been recent evidence of a concerted attempt being made to shift the practice of the state towards embracing a progressive model of incremental informal settlement upgrading but there remain ...There has been recent evidence of a concerted attempt being made to shift the practice of the state towards embracing a progressive model of incremental informal settlement upgrading but there remain serious challenges to enacting such a participatory model in practice.

Isandla Institute hosted a National Roundtable on the 18th of October 2012 in Cape Town that brought together key stakeholders from the different spheres of the state, civil society, community leaders and other national organising bodies for honest and critical reflection on the opportunities and challenges created by embracing a participatory approach to incremental informal settlement upgrading. The day consisted of a keynote address from the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Zou Kota-Fredericks, and a series of inputs from state officials, practitioners and NGOs to identify the key institutional, policy-related and practical levers available to municipal practitioners and civil society partners to ensure that the upgrading of informal settlements is done in partnership with communities.

]]>There has been recent evidence of a concerted attempt being made to shift the practice of the state towards embracing a progressive model of incremental informal settlement upgrading but there remain serious challenges to enacting such a participatory model in practice.

Isandla Institute hosted a National Roundtable on the 18th of October 2012 in Cape Town that brought together key stakeholders from the different spheres of the state, civil society, community leaders and other national organising bodies for honest and critical reflection on the opportunities and challenges created by embracing a participatory approach to incremental informal settlement upgrading. The day consisted of a keynote address from the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Zou Kota-Fredericks, and a series of inputs from state officials, practitioners and NGOs to identify the key institutional, policy-related and practical levers available to municipal practitioners and civil society partners to ensure that the upgrading of informal settlements is done in partnership with communities.

]]>IsandlaWhither provinces: Does provincial government matter to local government and participatory local democracy?http://isandla.org.za/news/28/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/28/http://isandla.org.za/news/28/2012-02-09T08:38:47ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteThu, 09 Feb 2012 08:37:00 +00002012-02-09T08:37:00Z2012-05-04T08:46:50ZOn 15 March 2012, Isandla Institute and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) hosted a Roundtable dialogue titled 'Whither provinces: Does provincial government matter to local government an ...On 15 March 2012, Isandla Institute and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) hosted a Roundtable dialogue titled 'Whither provinces: Does provincial government matter to local government and participatory local democracy?'

In the recent past, there have been a number of discussions about the future of South Africa's provincial governments. These have largely emanated from within the structures of the African National Congress (ANC) and that of its Alliance partners. These discussions have centred on various issues but largely raise political, economic, and structural and administration (efficiency) questions. Currently, there is also an ongoing discussion in the public discourse about the crisis in some provincial departments pronounced even more by the National Treasury's recent use of Section 100 of the Constitution to intervene in a number of provinces: Limpopo, Gauteng and Free State provinces (albeit in different formats). However, less is said about the impact of these on local government and governance.

The Roundtable was well attended by key stakeholders, including political parties and state officials, who engaged in vibrant discussions about a range broad issues, including:

The role provincial government plays in the current governance system and the arguments provided to retain/merge/scrap the current system

The nature of problems with provincial government as a system and/or specific provincial administrations

From the perspective of local government and local democracy, what are the benefits/drawbacks if provincial government in South Africa is retained, merged or scrapped?

What are the implications for the powers and functions of local government and for overall municipal functioning? (What does it mean for the two-tier system of local government?)

What are the likely implications for regional political structures and how could this affect the functioning of municipalities and local political structures?

As a result of these discussions the Good Governance Learning Network (GGLN) has formulated a joint position on these issues that can be found here.

]]>On 15 March 2012, Isandla Institute and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) hosted a Roundtable dialogue titled 'Whither provinces: Does provincial government matter to local government and participatory local democracy?'

In the recent past, there have been a number of discussions about the future of South Africa's provincial governments. These have largely emanated from within the structures of the African National Congress (ANC) and that of its Alliance partners. These discussions have centred on various issues but largely raise political, economic, and structural and administration (efficiency) questions. Currently, there is also an ongoing discussion in the public discourse about the crisis in some provincial departments pronounced even more by the National Treasury's recent use of Section 100 of the Constitution to intervene in a number of provinces: Limpopo, Gauteng and Free State provinces (albeit in different formats). However, less is said about the impact of these on local government and governance.

The Roundtable was well attended by key stakeholders, including political parties and state officials, who engaged in vibrant discussions about a range broad issues, including:

The role provincial government plays in the current governance system and the arguments provided to retain/merge/scrap the current system

The nature of problems with provincial government as a system and/or specific provincial administrations

From the perspective of local government and local democracy, what are the benefits/drawbacks if provincial government in South Africa is retained, merged or scrapped?

What are the implications for the powers and functions of local government and for overall municipal functioning? (What does it mean for the two-tier system of local government?)

What are the likely implications for regional political structures and how could this affect the functioning of municipalities and local political structures?

As a result of these discussions the Good Governance Learning Network (GGLN) has formulated a joint position on these issues that can be found here.

]]>IsandlaThe Right to the City Dialogue Serieshttp://isandla.org.za/news/27/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/27/http://isandla.org.za/news/27/2011-11-29T14:11:23ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteTue, 29 Nov 2011 14:04:00 +00002011-11-29T14:04:00Z2012-01-20T12:14:11ZThe Right to the City Dialogue Series, a partnership between Isandla Institute, Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC) and Informal Settlement Network's (ISN), has ...The Right to the City Dialogue Series, a partnership between Isandla Institute, Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC) and Informal Settlement Network's (ISN), has been a year-long process in 2011 focused on contextualising and providing momentum to the Right to the City concept in South Africa. The documents that have been produced as the result of the Dialogue Series are now available on Isandla Institute's website. These include a Communiqué that summarises the outcomes of the dialogues of the urban poor, a Summary and NGO Submission that have captured the content of the dialogues between the urban NGOs, and a National Roundtable Report capturing the proceedings of the final event we held in November. They can all be found here. ]]>The Right to the City Dialogue Series, a partnership between Isandla Institute, Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC) and Informal Settlement Network's (ISN), has been a year-long process in 2011 focused on contextualising and providing momentum to the Right to the City concept in South Africa. The documents that have been produced as the result of the Dialogue Series are now available on Isandla Institute's website. These include a Communiqué that summarises the outcomes of the dialogues of the urban poor, a Summary and NGO Submission that have captured the content of the dialogues between the urban NGOs, and a National Roundtable Report capturing the proceedings of the final event we held in November. They can all be found here. ]]>IsandlaGGLN Position on the Introduction of a Single Election for South Africahttp://isandla.org.za/news/26/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/26/http://isandla.org.za/news/26/2011-10-17T07:05:30ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteMon, 17 Oct 2011 07:01:00 +00002011-10-17T07:01:00Z2011-11-29T14:37:19ZThe Good Governance Learning Network (GGLN), a national network of civil society organisations with an interest in advancing participatory local governance in South Africa, has formulated a posit ...The Good Governance Learning Network (GGLN), a national network of civil society organisations with an interest in advancing participatory local governance in South Africa, has formulated a position on the introduction of a single election in South Africa that can be found here.]]>The Good Governance Learning Network (GGLN), a national network of civil society organisations with an interest in advancing participatory local governance in South Africa, has formulated a position on the introduction of a single election in South Africa that can be found here.]]>IsandlaBringing the poor in from the coldhttp://isandla.org.za/news/25/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/25/http://isandla.org.za/news/25/2011-10-10T10:27:38ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteMon, 10 Oct 2011 09:52:00 +00002011-10-10T09:52:00Z2011-10-11T08:06:04ZIsandla Institute contributed the lead op-ed in the Cape Argus on the 4th October 2011. It draws on the Right to the City Dialogue Series cohosted by Isandla Institute, Community Organisation Res ...Isandla Institute contributed the lead op-ed in the Cape Argus on the 4th October 2011. It draws on the Right to the City Dialogue Series cohosted by Isandla Institute, Community Organisation Resource Centre and Informal Settlements Network, with participants from urban NGOs and organisations of the urban poor, about understanding the contextual relevance and practical potential of a concept drawn from international development discourse – the Right to the City. It argues that the current 'modes of engagement' with the urban poor and questions of equality and sustainability are not being adequately addressed. It suggests that there are three immediate priorities: ensuring the right of the urban poor to be in the city, their right to access the benefits and opportunities located within the city, and their right to the involved in planning and decision-making about the development and functioning of the wider city.

To link to a web-based version of the artice click here, or a scan of the article here. For more on the overall Right to the City Dialogue Series click here.

]]>Isandla Institute contributed the lead op-ed in the Cape Argus on the 4th October 2011. It draws on the Right to the City Dialogue Series cohosted by Isandla Institute, Community Organisation Resource Centre and Informal Settlements Network, with participants from urban NGOs and organisations of the urban poor, about understanding the contextual relevance and practical potential of a concept drawn from international development discourse – the Right to the City. It argues that the current 'modes of engagement' with the urban poor and questions of equality and sustainability are not being adequately addressed. It suggests that there are three immediate priorities: ensuring the right of the urban poor to be in the city, their right to access the benefits and opportunities located within the city, and their right to the involved in planning and decision-making about the development and functioning of the wider city.

To link to a web-based version of the artice click here, or a scan of the article here. For more on the overall Right to the City Dialogue Series click here.

]]>IsandlaA single election in South Africa: Whose interests does it serve?http://isandla.org.za/news/24/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/24/http://isandla.org.za/news/24/2011-10-10T09:52:35ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteMon, 10 Oct 2011 09:46:00 +00002011-10-10T09:46:00Z2011-10-11T08:18:08ZIsandla hosted a successful and productive Roundtable discussing the potential implications of a single election in South Africa with representatives from political parties, NGOs, research organisatio ...Isandla hosted a successful and productive Roundtable discussing the potential implications of a single election in South Africa with representatives from political parties, NGOs, research organisations and other interested parties on 6 September 2011.

To lay a basis for the discussions on the day, Isandla Institute produced a discussion paper to outline the most salient points. To read this paper click here. The main points of the day were captured in an op-ed published on the 3 October 2011 available here.

]]>Isandla hosted a successful and productive Roundtable discussing the potential implications of a single election in South Africa with representatives from political parties, NGOs, research organisations and other interested parties on 6 September 2011.

To lay a basis for the discussions on the day, Isandla Institute produced a discussion paper to outline the most salient points. To read this paper click here. The main points of the day were captured in an op-ed published on the 3 October 2011 available here.

]]>IsandlaA new GGLN Coordinator at Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/23/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/23/http://isandla.org.za/news/23/2011-09-28T07:57:04ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteWed, 28 Sep 2011 07:53:00 +00002011-09-28T07:53:00Z2011-09-28T07:57:04ZThe GGLN welcomes a new staff member at Isandla Institute. Ronald Mukanya awaits being conveyed with an MPH in Sustainable Development, Planning and Management from Stellenbosch University. He previou ...The GGLN welcomes a new staff member at Isandla Institute. Ronald Mukanya awaits being conveyed with an MPH in Sustainable Development, Planning and Management from Stellenbosch University. He previously worked on Motivation's Africa Programme and takes up the position of GGLN Coordinator.]]>The GGLN welcomes a new staff member at Isandla Institute. Ronald Mukanya awaits being conveyed with an MPH in Sustainable Development, Planning and Management from Stellenbosch University. He previously worked on Motivation's Africa Programme and takes up the position of GGLN Coordinator.]]>IsandlaIsandla Institute has a new Policy Researcherhttp://isandla.org.za/news/22/
Isandla Institutehttp://isandla.org.za/news/22/http://isandla.org.za/news/22/2011-07-29T11:36:30ZIsandla InstituteIsandla InstituteFri, 29 Jul 2011 11:35:00 +00002011-07-29T11:35:00Z2011-09-12T07:52:30ZPamela Masiko-Kambala is the Policy Researcher in Isandla Institute's Politics of Local Governance Project. She was previously employed in the Political Information and Monitoring Services P ...Pamela Masiko-Kambala is the Policy Researcher in Isandla Institute's Politics of Local Governance Project. She was previously employed in the Political Information and Monitoring Services Programme (PIMS) at the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) and also worked at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) Pamela holds an MSc Degree in Violence, Conflict and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in the United Kingdom, a BSocSci Honours Degree in Social Development, a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and a BA Degree in Cultural and Literary Studies from the University of Cape Town.]]>Pamela Masiko-Kambala is the Policy Researcher in Isandla Institute's Politics of Local Governance Project. She was previously employed in the Political Information and Monitoring Services Programme (PIMS) at the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) and also worked at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) Pamela holds an MSc Degree in Violence, Conflict and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in the United Kingdom, a BSocSci Honours Degree in Social Development, a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and a BA Degree in Cultural and Literary Studies from the University of Cape Town.]]>Isandla